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Red Cross Disaster Relief

November 08, 2017

In the last ten weeks, the American Red Cross launched wide-ranging relief efforts to help people devastated by three historic back-to-back hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria. And most recently, the Red Cross began supporting thousands of people affected by the deadliest week of wildfires in California history.

California Wildfires

• The Red Cross, community and government partners have provided more than 27,900 overnight stays in emergency shelters.

• With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 181,400 meals and snacks, and provided more than 14,200 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

• The Red Cross has distributed more than 142,400 emergency relief items such as masks, gloves, rakes, trash bags and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items to people in need.

• To help people recover and get back on their feet, the Red Cross has opened more than 1,900 cases, reaching more than 4,700 Californians.

• More than 260 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground now.

Hurricane Response Efforts (Harvey, Irma and Maria)

• In the last ten weeks, the Red Cross, along with community and government partners, has provided nearly 1.3 million (1,296,800) overnight stays in emergency shelters. That’s more overnight shelter stays than the past 5 years combined. Shelters were opened in 8 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This includes—

For Harvey, more than 414,800 overnight shelter stays in Texas and Louisiana.

For Irma, more than 555,200 overnight shelter stays across six states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For Maria, more than 326,700 overnight stays in primarily government shelters across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• With the help of partners, the Red Cross has served more than 9.7 million (9,763,800) meals and snacks—that’s more food than the past 4 years combined.

• The Red Cross has distributed more than 5.8 million (5,802,900) emergency relief items to people in need.

• Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 202,800 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

• A total of more than 16,400 trained disaster workers, 91 percent of them volunteers, have been mobilized to support hurricane relief efforts. Many of these workers have supported multiple relief operations or deployed multiple times.

• Right now, more than 1,000 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground. More than 100 Red Cross workers from around the world deployed to the United States to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria (Puerto Rico and USVI)

• In Puerto Rico, more than 2,400 people stayed Tuesday night in 61 government evacuation shelters.

• On the U.S. Virgin Islands, more than 90 people stayed Tuesday night in 4 shelters.

• More than 820 Red Cross disaster workers are supporting relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands now.

• Along with our partners, the Red Cross has served more than 3.6 million (3,623,300) meals and snacks across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• We’ve distributed 3 million (3,068,000) relief items across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Red Cross volunteers have provided more than 22,900 mental health and health services to support and care for those affected.

• Since Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico, the Red Cross has served more than 3.5 million (3,541,700) meals and snacks, distributed more than 2.5 million (2,523,300) relief supplies, and provided more than 17,600 mental health and health services to people in need. Right now, nearly 700 Red Cross disaster workers are helping.

• Since Irma and Maria struck the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Red Cross has served more than 81,600 meals and snacks, handed out more than 544,600 relief items, and provided more than 5,300 mental health and health services to people in need. Right now, nearly 150 trained Red Cross disaster workers are helping.

• More than 30 Red Cross disaster responders from around the globe deployed to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help deliver aid. These responders came from Red Cross societies in Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, Mexico, Spain, and from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.